(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-22 11:14

In the acting awards, clear front-runners have emerged in most categories, with Daniel Day-Lewis the best actor favorite for his performance as a tyrannical oil prospector in Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood."

The best actress front-runners are tipped to be France's Marion Cotillard for her portrayal of tragic chanteuse Edith Piaf in "La Vie En Rose" and British veteran Julie Christie for playing an Alzheimer's sufferer in "Away from Her."

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In the best supporting actor category, Javier Bardem is hotly tipped for his performance as a psychopathic hitman in "No Country for Old Men" while Australian Cate Blanchett is fresh from a Golden Globe for her gender-bending performance as Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There."

The build-up to the Oscars has been dominated this year by concerns that the biggest night of Tinseltown's year may be disrupted by picket lines set up by writers who have been striking since November over royalties.

Actors steered clear of the Golden Globes after the Writer's Guild of America vowed to set up picket lines, forcing the cancellation of the ceremony, which was replaced by a 30-minute news conference.

Despite fears that a similar scenario may play out at the Oscars, Academy officials are adamant that the show will go on next month, with or without the appearance of A-list stars.

Awards show producer Gil Cates told the Los Angeles Times he was praying stars showed up for the event, but hinted the ceremony could survive without the appearance of actors.

"There are enough clips in 80 years of Oscar history to make up a very entertaining show," Cates told the Times.

"We'd have a lot of people on stage. Much as this is shocking to people, there are a lot of people who don't act. I just hope that the actors are there. I pray that the actors are there. I'm planning that the actors are there."

Sets for the show at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood were already being designed and built, while planners were to start choosing actors to be presenters and perform musical numbers after Tuesday's nominations.

"I don't want to say read my lips, but it's not going to be canceled," Cates said.

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